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07-14 May 2022
This trip was highlighted by two incredible Kirtland’s Warblers!
Overview
This eight-day special Golden Gate Audubon Society (GGAS) tour of Ohio commenced in Detroit in the neighboring state of Michigan on the 7th of May and completed back in Detroit on the 14th of May 2022. The tour visited many of Ohio’s great parks and wildlife areas in both the northern and southern portions of the state. These included Magee Marsh State Park, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Pearson Metropark, Sharon Woods Metropark, Shawnee State Park and Oak Openings Metropark.
This tour connected with amazing and colorful migrant species and many fantastic Ohio breeding species, giving us a great list for only one week of birding together. Avian highlights included Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Cedar Waxwing, Philadelphia and Yellow-throated Vireos, Sandhill Crane, Black-necked Stilt, Bald Eagle, Acadian Flycatcher and 34 warbler species such as Magnolia, Bay-breasted, Canada, Mourning, Golden-winged and Blackburnian Warblers. We also managed to score not one but TWO Kirtland’s Warblers, certainly a difficult and impressive feat to pull off in Ohio.
A total of 149 bird species were seen with one additional heard only species bringing the total recorded to 150. In addition to the birds, some other animals were spotted including White-tailed Deer, Muskrat, Eastern Fox Squirrel, Common Snapping Turtle, and the state endangered Blanding’s Turtle. Full bird and mammal checklists can be found at the end of the report.
Magnolia Warbler was one of the favorite species of the trip and rightfully so.
Detailed Report
Day 1, 7th May 2022. Arrival in Detroit and Ohio birding
All participants on this trip were in Detroit early so we all met up around mid-morning and headed straight to Ohio for lunch and then some afternoon birding. The first birding stop of the day was a local creamery stand with a flooded field behind it where we logged our first species for the trip: Trumpeter Swan, Bald Eagle, Great Egret and Wood Duck. From there we headed off to Pearson Metropark, hopeful to find our first warbler of the trip. The birding was a bit slow because the winds had been northerly for the previous few days, keeping birds further south. Despite this, we managed some nice species including Myrtle and Palm Warblers, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Then we explored the northern portion of Pearson and added American Yellow Warbler, Tree Swallow and American Goldfinch. This was a great start to our Ohio warbler tour.
Day 2, 8th May 2022. First taste of Magee Marsh and Ottawa
We had breakfast and coffee at the hotel and then headed out for our first full day of birding. Our first stop was the famous migration hotspot of Magee Marsh and we spent an entire morning there. The entrance road was surrounded by marsh habitat and scanning through this yielded Blue-winged Teal and Trumpeter Swan. We continued to the main parking lot, slowly worked our way across the trees in the parking lot and then worked the long boardwalk trail here. Although a “slower” day in terms of migration, we still recorded six species of warblers: Black-and-white, American Yellow, Palm, Myrtle and Black-throated Blue Warblers and Common Yellowthroat. Of course, there were other lovely birds as well like White-throated Sparrow, Blue Jay, Downy Woodpecker, Grey Catbird, Belted Kingfisher and Warbling Vireo. This was certainly a good introduction to Magee Marsh and some of the migrants and resident species. It was then time for lunch at the local Blackberry Corner Tavern.
After lunch we headed out to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and did the auto loop, which was open at this time of year. We started off with a Purple Martin colony at the entrance, an Eastern Phoebe at the bridge and an Eastern Screech-Owl taking a snooze in a tree cavity. There were plenty of Red-winged Blackbirds throughout the drive, as well as American Yellow Warblers. About halfway through, we found some better sections of water and noted Great Blue Heron, Common Gallinule, American Coot, Gadwall and a flock of American White Pelicans flying overhead. Along the back stretch of the drive, we came across Great Horned Owl owlets, with one of the parents off in the distance watching. This was indeed a fantastic auto drive at Ottawa. Then it was time for dinner and back to the hotel for the evening.
It was hard to beat the color pattern of the Black-throated Blue Warbler!
Day 3, 9th May 2022. Drive south and Sharon Woods
We headed out on the long journey to southern Ohio and Shawnee State Park. We decided to take the route through Cincinnati with a stop at the beautiful Sharon Woods Park. Due to recent winds and weather, there were definitely more migrants and bird activity here in southern Ohio than what we had seen up north. It was an absolutely perfect day to be outside birding and right away we were treated to Chestnut-sided and Blackburnian Warblers. As we ventured further into the park, we picked some jaw dropping closeups of Magnolia and Bay-breasted Warblers as well as Northern Cardinal, Swainson’s Thrush and House Wren. It was such a gorgeous day that we decided to go and fetch our lunch and head back to the park to enjoy it. It’s a good thing we did because as soon as we got back, we saw a group of birders who were on a Kirtland’s Warbler! This rare bird gave all of us amazing point-blank views. Overall, we recorded nine species of warblers at Sharon Woods before moving on.
We arrived at the foothills of the Appalachians, where we stopped at Edge of Appalachia Preserve for about 30 minutes of birding. Here we picked up our first southern breeding warbler species in the form of Prairie Warbler. Of course, we ticked a few other new trip birds as well like Field Sparrow, Black Vulture, Yellow-breasted Chat and Eastern Towhee. We continued to the lodge for dinner to cap off our long day of driving and birding.
Day 4, 10th May 2022. Shawnee State Park
Shawnee State Park is an amazing forest full of southern breeding species as well as migrants working their way north. We had the entire day to explore this area and take in the beauty of nature. We started off along Pond Lick Road with a singing Hooded Warbler, Northern Parula and Yellow-throated Vireo. We managed to catch up with Yellow-throated Warbler, before hitting the top ridge to hopefully find some new migrants. At the top we spotted an Ovenbird belting out his song, which echoed through the forest. A Black-throated Green Warbler was singing but unfortunately stayed far too high for us to enjoy. We also enjoyed the rare and state endangered Pink Lady Slipper Orchid. After the sun had risen sufficiently, we headed back down and birded some different territories, looking for breeding species. This was very successful and we picked up Kentucky, Worm-eating, Hooded and Cerulean Warblers.
This Acadian Flycatcher allowed close and prolonged study.
At lunchtime, we enjoyed a picnic on top of a ridge with a scenic overlook whilst being serenaded by Cerulean and Tennessee Warblers. The afternoon was full of more warblers and also some other colorful species like Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, Wood Thrush and White-eyed Vireo. As we explored the vast forest, we could hear the song of the Acadian Flycatcher, but it took a while before we could get a visual from a very accommodating bird. The rest of the afternoon was spent back near the lodge and cabins. We had an amazing encounter with an extremely territorial Pine Warbler which nearly collided with our heads as he flew along singing! After dinner at the lodge, we met up in the parking lot to listen for Eastern Whip-poor-will. As we were waiting for the sun to set, a few Common Nighthawks flew by overhead and the Chimney Swifts circled around before going to roost. Once it was dark, we managed to hear several Eastern Whip-poor-wills calling and even found one sitting in the road for a moment! This was another great day in the amazing Shawnee Forest.
Day 5, 11th May 2022. Shawnee State Park and back up north
The morning started off with some birding around the lodge and cabins. Cerulean Warblers were singing all around the lodge and we saw our first Blackpoll Warbler of the trip, as well as a small flock of Cedar Waxwings. We headed back to the lodge to have breakfast and pack up our things. After loading the van, we made another quick stop along Route 1 to target a more southern breeding warbler that we still needed. It didn’t take long for us to find a Louisiana Waterthrush. We watched this bird fly up and down along the fast-moving stream for some time before heading out and starting the long drive back north.
The afternoon was spent around Maumee Bay State Park between the beach and the boardwalk. At the inland beach, we picked up Caspian and Forster’s Tern, both new for the trip. It was a pleasant evening for a stroll along the Maumee boardwalk, where we netted eight warbler species, including a few new ones like the glowing Prothonotary Warbler and the chestnut-cheeked Cape May Warbler. Some non-warbler species included Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Tree Swallow and two different roosting Common Nighthawks. We finished our walk and headed back to the lodge for a nice dinner. We were already up to 26 species of warblers for the trip and were all excited about what the improved weather would mean for the rest of our time along Lake Erie.
This Northern Waterthrush put on a nice show, strutting around for a minute.
Day 6, 12th May 2022. Oak Openings and Magee Marsh
This morning we headed west and made a stop at Cannonball Prairie, a small park. The prairie and grasslands were fantastic for sparrows and we were not disappointed as we picked up White-crowned, Henslow’s, Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrows. There were also some Orchard Orioles flying around and a couple of Tennessee Warblers feasting on the nectar of nearby flowers. After this great start to our day, we headed over to the amazing oak-savannah habitat of Oak Opening Metropark. This vast park hosted a few breeding species we were still needing. We stopped at tornado alley first, for a quick walk and it yielded one of the absolutely best warblers, a Golden-winged Warbler singing periodically and giving all of us nice, prolonged views. Further up the trail we came across Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Cardinal, Scarlet Tanager and Red-headed Woodpecker. Continuing our way through the park, a quick stop in the sandier area netted us Lark and Field Sparrows as well as Eastern Bluebird, American Goldfinch and Nashville Warbler. We made another stop in the northern section of the park when, from the van window, we heard a singing Blue-winged Warbler. We got out of the van and all had a nice view. This was another great pickup and then it was off to lunch.
The post-lunch plan was to head to the Magee Marsh boardwalk and spend the afternoon there. Activity had certainly increased since earlier in the week, with 15 warbler species! Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Magnolia and Prothonotary Warblers were all observed at such close range that we didn’t even need binoculars to see their beauty and detail. This was all part of the wonder of this area. A skulking Wilson’s Warbler was also added to our warbler list and a Veery in the parking lot area was another nice addition to our trip list. After a nice dinner, we met up at dusk to venture onto some fields near Maumee lodge. As darkness fell, we heard the “peents” of the American Woodcock sounding off and caught a glimpse of it circling high in the air making its display. With a little patience, we eventually got it for a short time in our torch light as it perched along a mowed path. This was a great close to an action-packed day.
Day 7, 13th May 2022. More Magee Marsh and Howard Marsh
On our final full day of the trip, we headed back to Magee Marsh to see what new goodies had dropped in overnight. Birding was excellent and we managed to see 59 species in about three hours, including 19 warblers! Everywhere we turned our heads there was a new bird to be seen. To name just a few, we observed Magnolia, Bay-breasted, American Yellow, Palm, Black-throated Green, Wilson’s, Cape May and Nashville Warblers, plus Scarlet Tanager, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Swainson’s Thrush and Brown Thrasher. All of these species were common as we walked and saw multiples of each, most of which were very close up. We also managed to get on a few special species that did require some patience. A Mourning Warbler made brief appearances as it hid in the dense vegetation, but eventually we all managed a glimpse or more. Additionally, a few Canada Warblers were hanging around, but all of them were being sneaky and difficult to see. With patience and determination, we got on one of these gorgeous birds. Towards the end of our walk, we spotted a Northern Waterthrush strutting its stuff along the forest floor, searching for food. It was fun watching the waterthrush do its thing.
After lunch we headed to Howard Marsh, a new park where some fantastic species have been recorded. We picked up Pied-billed Grebe, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Lesser Scaup, Dunlin, Common Tern, Osprey and Bald Eagle. We also spotted a couple of rare breeding birds (for Ohio) that have made good use of this marsh recently: Yellow-headed Blackbird and Black-necked Stilt. In the early evening, we checked out a different area of Magee Marsh called the Estuary Trail. More amazing warbler action was had as we explored this trail, with Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted and American Yellow Warblers all over the place. Towards the end of the trail, there was a big commotion amongst other birders, who were looking at a Kirtland’s Warbler. We hurried there and enjoyed some point-blank views of this special warbler, sometimes less than 15 feet (5 meters) from us! The warblers were fantastic, but there were also some other nice species including Eastern Kingbird, Least Flycatcher and Veery. On our way out, we spotted a stunning Philadelphia Vireo which allowed us close views so that we could really study the key features before it flew off. We couldn’t wish for a better final evening to our warbler tour than this and we headed off to dinner to celebrate.
Philadelphia Vireo
Day 8, 14th May 2022. Departure
Our final morning offered a short optional birding session around the boardwalk of Maumee Bay State Park before breakfast. It was a bit of an overcast morning and the birding was slow. The usual Prothonotary Warblers which breed in this area were out and about and we were treated to a weeping Great Crested Flycatcher. At the end of our walk, just before turning back, we spotted an amazing family of Eastern Screech-Owls! We found mom, dad and four little fluffball babies scattered near the nesting cavity they had recently left. On our walk back we got onto a Hairy Woodpecker which was new for the trip and ended up being species number 150, a lovely round number to end the trip with! After our walk we met up with those who had stayed behind, grabbed some breakfast, packed our things and headed back to the Detroit airport where we said our goodbyes after a truly fantastic week of birding in Ohio.
Bird List – Following IOC (12.1)
Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen. Species seen only on the pre-trip day of this trip are marked with (+) after the common name.
The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: CE = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, NT = Near Threatened.
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae) | |
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis |
| Trumpeter Swan | Cygnus buccinator |
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa |
| Blue-winged Teal | Spatula discors |
| Gadwall | Mareca strepera |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Hooded Merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus |
| Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis |
| Nightjars (Caprimulgidae) | |
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor |
| Eastern Whip-poor-will | Antrostomus vociferus |
| Swifts (Apodidae) | |
| Chimney Swift – VU | Chaetura pelagica |
| Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) | |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris |
| Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae) | |
| Rock Dove (Introduced) | Columba livia |
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura |
| Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae) | |
| Sora | Porzana carolina |
| Common Gallinule | Gallinula galeata |
| American Coot | Fulica americana |
| Cranes (Gruidae) | |
| Sandhill Crane | Antigone canadensis |
| Grebes (Podicipedidae) | |
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps |
| Stilts and Avocets (Recurvirostridae) | |
| Black-necked Stilt | Himantopus mexicanus |
| Plovers (Charadriidae) | |
| Grey (Black-bellied) Plover | Pluvialis squatarola |
| Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus |
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus |
| Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae) | |
| Dunlin | Calidris alpina |
| American Woodcock | Scolopax minor |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius |
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes |
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca |
| Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae) | |
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis |
| American Herring Gull | Larus smithsonianus |
| Caspian Tern | Hydroprogne caspia |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo |
| Forster’s Tern | Sterna forsteri |
| Cormorants and Shags (Phalacrocoracidae) | |
| Double-crested Cormorant | Nannopterum auritum |
| Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns (Ardeidae) | |
| Green Heron | Butorides virescens |
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba |
| Pelicans (Pelecanidae) | |
| American White Pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos |
| New World Vultures (Cathartidae) | |
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura |
| Ospreys (Pandionidae) | |
| Western Osprey | Pandion haliaetus |
| Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae) | |
| Cooper’s Hawk | Accipiter cooperii |
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis |
| Owls (Strigidae) | |
| Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus |
| Eastern Screech Owl | Megascops asio |
| Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) | |
| Belted Kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon |
| Woodpeckers (Picidae) | |
| Red-headed Woodpecker | Melanerpes erythrocephalus |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus |
| Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens |
| Hairy Woodpecker | Leuconotopicus villosus |
| Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus |
| Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus |
| Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae) | |
| Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe |
| Eastern Wood Pewee | Contopus virens |
| Acadian Flycatcher | Empidonax virescens |
| Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus |
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus |
| Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus |
| Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis (Vireonidae) | |
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus |
| Philadelphia Vireo | Vireo philadelphicus |
| Warbling Vireo | Vireo gilvus |
| Yellow-throated Vireo | Vireo flavifrons |
| Blue-headed Vireo | Vireo solitarius |
| White-eyed Vireo | Vireo griseus |
| Crows, Jays, and Magpies (Corvidae) | |
| Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata |
| American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos |
| Waxwings (Bombycillidae) | |
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum |
| Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice (Paridae) | |
| Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor |
| Carolina Chickadee | Poecile carolinensis |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus |
| Larks (Alaudidae) | |
| Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris |
| Swallows (Hirundinidae) | |
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor |
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis |
| Purple Martin | Progne subis |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica |
| American Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota |
| Wrens (Troglodytidae) | |
| Carolina Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon |
| Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae) | |
| Blue-grey Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea |
| Nuthatches (Sittidae) | |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis |
| Mockingbirds, Thrashers (Mimidae) | |
| Grey Catbird | Salpinctes obsoletus |
| Northern Mockingbird | Catherpes mexicanus |
| Brown Thrasher | Cistothorus palustris |
| Starlings, Rhabdornis (Sturnidae) | |
| Common (European) Starling | Sturnus vulgaris |
| Thrushes and Allies (Turdidae) | |
| Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis |
| Wood Thrush (H) | Hylocichla mustelina |
| Swainson’s Thrush | Catharus ustulatus |
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens |
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius |
| Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae) | |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus |
| Finches, Euphonias (Fringillidae) | |
| House Finch (Introduced) | Haemorhous mexicanus |
| American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis |
| New World Sparrows (Passerellidae) | |
| Grasshopper Sparrow | Ammodramus savannarum |
| Lark Sparrow | Chondestes grammacus |
| Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina |
| Field Sparrow | Spizella pusilla |
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis |
| White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys |
| White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis |
| Henslow’s Sparrow | Centronyx henslowii |
| Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis |
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia |
| Lincoln’s Sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii |
| Eastern Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus |
| Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteriidae) | |
| Yellow-breasted Chat | Icteria virens |
| Oropendolas, Orioles, Blackbirds (Icteridae) | |
| Yellow-headed Blackbird | Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus |
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula |
| Orchard Oriole | Icterus spurius |
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater |
| Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula |
| New World Warblers (Parulidae) | |
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla |
| Worm-eating Warbler | Helmitheros vermivorum |
| Louisiana Waterthrush | Parkesia motacilla |
| Northern Waterthrush | Parkesia noveboracensis |
| Golden-winged Warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera |
| Blue-winged Warbler | Vermivora cyanoptera |
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia |
| Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea |
| Tennessee Warbler | Leiothlypis peregrina |
| Nashville Warbler | Leiothlypis ruficapilla |
| Mourning Warbler | Geothlypis philadelphia |
| Kentucky Warbler | Geothlypis formosa |
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas |
| Hooded Warbler | Setophaga citrina |
| American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla |
| Kirtland’s Warbler (Rarity) | Setophaga kirtlandii |
| Cape May Warbler | Setophaga tigrina |
| Cerulean Warbler | Setophaga cerulea |
| Northern Parula | Setophaga americana |
| Magnolia Warbler | Setophaga magnolia |
| Bay-breasted Warbler | Setophaga castanea |
| Blackburnian Warbler | Setophaga fusca |
| American Yellow Warbler | Setophaga aestiva |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Setophaga pensylvanica |
| Blackpoll Warbler | Setophaga striata |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Setophaga caerulescens |
| Palm Warbler | Setophaga palmarum |
| Pine Warbler | Setophaga pinus |
| Myrtle Warbler | Setophaga coronata |
| Yellow-throated Warbler | Setophaga dominica |
| Prairie Warbler | Setophaga discolor |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | Setophaga virens |
| Canada Warbler | Cardellina canadensis |
| Wilson’s Warbler | Cardellina pusilla |
| Cardinals and Allies (Cardinalidae) | |
| Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus |
| Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis |
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea |
| Total Seen | 149 |
| Total Heard | 1 |
| Total Recorded | 150 |
Mammal List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Squirrels and Relatives (Sciuridae) | |
| Woodchuck | Marmota monax |
| Eastern Gray Squirrel | Sciurus carolinensis |
| Eastern Fox Squirrel | Sciurus niger |
| Eastern Chipmunk | Tamias striatus |
| Rodents (Cricetidae) | |
| Muskrat | Ondatra zibethicus |
| Rabbits and Hares (Leporidae) | |
| Eastern Cottontail | Sylvilagus floridanus |
| Raccoons and Relatives (Procyonidae) | |
| Northern Raccoon | Procyon lotor |
| Deer, Elk, Mooses (Cervidae) | |
| White-tailed Deer | Odocoileus virginianus |
| Total Seen | 8 |
This is a sample trip report. Please email us ([email protected]) for more trip reports from this destination.
